Occlusion-resistant catheter with occlusion-resistant tip

Abstract

An occlusion-resistant catheter, occlusion-resistant catheter tip, and methods of use are disclosed. In one embodiment, the occlusion-resistant catheter includes a hollow cannula defining a fluid passageway therethrough, the hollow cannula having a body portion with a first end and a second end, and an occlusion-resistant tip positioned at the first end of the body portion. The occlusion-resistant tip has at least one port that provides access to an interior lumen, and the interior lumen is in fluid communication with the fluid passageway of the body portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An occlusion-resistant catheter comprising:
 a hollow cannula defining a fluid passageway therethrough, the hollow cannula comprising a body portion having a first end and a second end; and   an occlusion-resistant tip positioned at the first end of the body portion, the occlusion-resistant tip comprising at least one port that provides access to an interior lumen, the interior lumen in fluid communication with the fluid passageway of the body portion.   
     
     
         2 . The occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 1  wherein the occlusion-resistant tip further comprises a plurality of protrusions positioned in a helical manner around the tip, the protrusions being positioned around a plurality of ports that allow for fluid to pass into the interior lumen of the tip. 
     
     
         3 . The occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 1  wherein the occlusion-resistant tip further comprises a plurality of protrusions positioned in a spiral manner around the tip, the protrusions being positioned around a plurality of ports that allow for fluid to pass first into the interior lumen of the tip. 
     
     
         4 . The occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 1  wherein the occlusion-resistant tip further comprises a plurality of elongated ports that allow fluid to pass into the interior lumen of the tip. 
     
     
         5 . The occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 4  wherein the plurality of elongated ports are rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         6 . The occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 1  wherein the occlusion-resistant tip further comprises a lattice structure having a plurality of ports that allow fluid to pass into the interior lumen of the tip. 
     
     
         7 . The occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 6  wherein the lattice structure comprises a plurality of layers, each layer including a plurality of ports. 
     
     
         8 . The occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 7  wherein the plurality of ports of each lattice layer are staggered. 
     
     
         9 . The occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 1  wherein the occlusion-resistant tip further comprises a plurality of recesses having a plurality of ports positioned at a bottom of the recesses. 
     
     
         10 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 1  wherein the occlusion-resistant tip further comprises one or more nested layers, wherein each layer defines an interior lumen and comprises a plurality of recesses, each of the plurality of recesses comprising a plurality of ports positioned at the bottom of the recesses, the ports providing access to the interior lumen of the next nested layer. 
     
     
         13 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 1  wherein the occlusion-resistant tip comprises a length of about 0.5 cm to about 3.5 cm. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 1  in which the catheter is impregnated with antibiotics or antimicrobials. 
     
     
         20 . The occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 1  in which the catheter may be made radiopaque. 
     
     
         21 . occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 1  in which the catheter comprises a biocompatible material. 
     
     
         22 . The occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 21  in which the hollow cannula comprises silicone. 
     
     
         23 . The occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 21  in which the occlusion-resistant tip comprises a thermoplastic polymers. 
     
     
         24 . The occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 1  in which the occlusion-resistant tip is molded to the hollow cannula. 
     
     
         25 . The occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 1  in which the occlusion-resistant tip is bonded to the hollow cannula. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method of decreasing pressure in the brain of a subject, the method comprising inserting into the brain of the subject an occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 1 , such that the pressure is decreased in the brain of the subject. 
     
     
         28 . A method of draining cerebral spinal fluid from the brain of a subject comprising inserting into the brain of the subject an occlusion-resistant catheter according to  claim 1 , such that the cerebral spinal fluid is drained from the brain of the subject. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled)